“I can help you, you know.”
Xuanji Holy Lord turned, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. The Green-skirted Girl stood right before her, yet Xuanji Holy Lord felt an immense distance. The girl radiated a profound Dao charm, her very being practically screaming “Invincible.”
“Who are you?”
The Green-skirted Girl smiled. “I am the Heavenly Dao of this realm.”
Xuanji Holy Lord frowned. “The Heavenly Dao?”
The Green-skirted Girl giggled. “Since you have this intention, I’ll help you create a forbidden zone. We’ll gather all the Eerie Power from the Southern Wilds, and from then on, no more Eerie Power will leak out. But you must remain seated within this forbidden zone, comprehending the Eerie Power until you’ve fully mastered it.”
Xuanji Holy Lord pondered, offering no reply. While this was indeed her plan, hearing it articulated by the Green-skirted Girl made the prospect feel incredibly heavy.
The Green-skirted Girl continued, “This forbidden zone will become a world unto itself. Besides the corrosion of Eerie Power, you will also endure Inauspicious Power.”
Xuanji Holy Lord asked, puzzled, “Why are you helping me?”
The Green-skirted Girl rubbed her brow. “I can’t quite figure it out myself. I’ve been asleep for so long, forgotten so many things. But one of the few things I do remember is that I’m supposed to help you. And you carry his aura.”
Xuanji Holy Lord’s starry eyes flickered. “Who is ‘that person’?”
The Green-skirted Girl shook her head. “I can’t recall. But both you and Dao Yi carry his aura.”
“Dao Yi?” Xuanji Holy Lord was perplexed. She felt an intense dislike for something about Dao Yi. Who was this person, to be connected to both her and Dao Yi?
A moment of silence. The Green-skirted Girl said, “Perhaps, one day, when you’ve fully comprehended the Eerie Power, you will know.”
Xuanji Holy Lord nodded. On that day, four other Nine-star Great Emperors gathered in the Southern Wilds, joining Xuanji Holy Lord to establish the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Zone. They would forever be known as the Founding Magnates!
***
At the One Sword Sect.
Luo Lingkong had recovered most of his memories.
Two clear streams of tears traced paths down his face, his voice trembling uncontrollably. “Sir... Peak Master Lu... So you were always protecting us in the shadows.”
He was the Ancient Ancestor of the One Sword Sect! Back then, after the Bronze Ancient Palace appeared, a great war erupted among the Ancient Ancestors of the First Star Ring. Three major factions! In that battle, he had fallen!
But likewise, the Reincarnation Power of the white-robed man had been bestowed upon his body, and so he was reborn! Reborn into the Grand Dao Sect!
This time, Sir himself presided over the Grand Dao Sect, watching them grow! Tears welled in his eyes. Luo Lingkong’s heart swelled with emotion as he recalled the Ancient Epoch, when Sir sat beneath a towering tree, expounding the Dao across the Star Sea. He had been among those listening.
Alas, in that battle, the Ancient Ancestors of the Eerie Race, along with human traitors and Innate Ancient Ancestors, had besieged Sir. At that time, he had not yet reached the Ancient Ancestor Realm! In that battle, he too had fallen!
He didn’t know what happened afterward, but he had personally witnessed Ji Fuyao fall in battle, Ye Chen fall in battle, Ah Li fall in battle, and Xuanji Holy Lord fall in battle!
However, later, Sir had forcefully burned his own essence, imbuing their bodies with Reincarnation Power! He presumed that after his own death, Sir had likewise imbued him with Reincarnation Power! This was why he had been able to be reborn once more!
But he was different from Ji Fuyao, Ye Chen, Ah Li, and Xuanji Holy Lord. They had already reached the Ancient Ancestor Realm during the First Star Sea Great War! They had then not participated in the Bronze Ancient Palace conflict, directly reincarnating into the Tai Chu Realm!
He, along with Liu Xuan and Fang Yan, had fallen during the Bronze Ancient Palace conflict, and only afterward, through the aid of Reincarnation Power, had they entered the Tai Chu Realm.
As these thoughts flooded him, Luo Lingkong’s emotions surged. But now was not the time for sorrow or nostalgia. The Star Sea Great War was brewing once more! He had already sensed Ji Fuyao’s summons!
“Whoosh!” A heaven-piercing sword qi surged from Luo Lingkong’s body. Within him resided a remnant soul of an Ancient Ancestor, its aura identical to his own.
“Boom!” Luo Lingkong took a single step, and a vast river of sword qi manifested across the entire One Sword Sect.
Everyone was utterly shocked. “An Ancient Ancestor!” Luo Lingkong gazed down at the crowd, stating calmly, “The Star Sea War is about to erupt in full force. Our sect must prepare!”
The numerous Old Ancestors sensed the fluctuations emanating from Luo Lingkong, all nodding gravely. “We obey the Ancestor’s command!” At this moment, everyone knew that Luo Lingkong had returned as their Ancestor. The karmic power that had been erased from the past now fully resurfaced.
In a flash, Luo Lingkong departed on his sword, heading to rendezvous with Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen. His sword qi soared to the heavens, tearing through the Star Sea, a single streak of light that shocked the entire Star Sea. The Sword Ancestor!
***
At the same time. Towards the Qianhuan Sect.
Liu Xuan, clad in a long dress, still had tear stains on her face. A captivating aura flowed from her, transforming into Dao charm that permeated her surroundings, like a blooming immortal flower that made the heavens and earth pale in comparison.
It was also the aura of an Ancient Ancestor Realm expert! Within Liu Xuan, too, resided a remnant soul of an Ancient Ancestor. She had no time to refine this remnant soul’s power now; she would refine it in battle!
Liu Xuan’s eyes shimmered like ripples on a spring lake, causing everyone in the Qianhuan Sect to feel their minds tremble.
The numerous Old Ancestors of the Qianhuan Sect all knelt down. Although Liu Xuan had obtained the ultimate inheritance, and the strange Eerie Power that had enveloped this region had dissipated, they now understood everything. The very existence of the Qianhuan Sect originated from Sir!
A grey-robed phantom bowed respectfully to Liu Xuan. “Ancestor, Ancient Ancestor Mei took the other half of your inheritance.”
Liu Xuan said calmly, “No matter. Ancient Ancestor Mei and I are destined for a final battle.” Because Ancient Ancestor Mei had refined the other half of the Illusion Dao Power, Liu Xuan could now vaguely sense her location. Far, far away, within the First Star Ring!
“Time waits for no one! Qianhuan Sect, prepare for the final war!” With that, Liu Xuan rose into the air, divine flower petals blossoming beneath her jade feet as she shot towards Ji Fuyao’s location.
***
Meanwhile. At the Panshi Sect.
“Argh! Argh! Argh!...” Fang Yan, having integrated a portion of his memories, was violently pounding the ground, letting out cries of sorrow. Tears streamed incessantly down his face.
“Sir!” “Peak Master Lu!” “You tricked us so thoroughly, and we suffered for it!” “Yet, you’re still the same as before, silently protecting us...”
At this moment, Fang Yan’s body blazed with golden light, like a giant forged from pure gold. With every punch he threw, the entire inheritance ground shook violently.
For a moment, the entire Panshi Sect was stunned. Numerous Old Ancestors gathered outside the inheritance ground, gazing inward with shock.
“Boom!” “Crack!” The next instant, the entire inheritance shattered. Fang Yan’s body, like a towering mountain, strode forth, tears cascading down his face like a waterfall, a silver river plunging three thousand feet.
The aura of an Ancient Ancestor surged through this entire region. Witnessing this, the numerous Old Ancestors immediately knelt. “Ancestor!”